Peak Forest Canal – Marple Stretch

The Peak Forest Canal at Marple is a proper canal venue rather than a lake fishery. It sits within the Canal & River Trust waterway network, running through Marple in Greater Manchester as part of the wider Peak Forest Canal.

• 2 lakes: Marple stretch, Marple flight of 16 locks
• Fish: perch
• Find it: Marple · SK6 5LD

Based on how each lake is set up — not a ranking.

The Peak Forest Canal at Marple is a proper canal venue rather than a lake fishery. It sits within the Canal & River Trust waterway network, running through Marple in Greater Manchester as part of the wider Peak Forest Canal. The canal stretches for roughly 15 miles overall, linking Dukinfield Junction with Bugsworth Basin, so this is a linear fishing venue with plenty of water to explore rather than a set of numbered lake pegs.

The Marple section is famous for its flight of 16 locks, which split the upper and lower levels of the canal. They climb around 209–210 feet over roughly a mile, giving the area loads of character and some cracking waterside scenery. The Marple Aqueduct carries the canal over the River Goyt too, while the Macclesfield Canal joins at Marple Junction. Basically, there’s plenty to look at between a few casts.

There’s a big slice of canal history here as well. The upper canal opened for trade in 1796, with the Marple locks completed around 1804–1805. The Marple-to-Dukinfield section was later restored and reopened in 1974. The canal was originally designed mainly for transporting limestone from Derbyshire, and it’s still a lively stretch today with boating, walking and heritage tourism all part of the picture.

On the fishing front, perch are recorded from the Peak Forest Canal near Marple by angling users. That’s the checked species detail available, so it’s best not to turn up expecting a full lake-style stock list or guaranteed lumps. There’s no published lake acreage or peg count either, which is no surprise for a long, navigable canal. Think mobile canal fishing: look at the margins, lock approaches and changes in depth, and be prepared to move if a spot doesn’t look right.

Boat traffic is part of the deal. Navigation restrictions may affect a session, and passing craft can change the water and put fish down for a while. A light, flexible setup and a tidy amount of kit make sense when you’re walking the towpath and checking a few swims. Before fishing, have a look at the water, watch how boats use the channel and ask the relevant contact about current access, angling areas and any local restrictions.

Permission is the bit to get bob on before setting off. Anglers need the appropriate national rod licence where applicable, and Canal & River Trust or controlling-angling-club permission may also be required. No day-ticket or season-ticket price, booking system, official opening hours, night-fishing policy or fishery-specific rules were published for this named stretch, so check those details before loading the gear. The nearest identified Marple postcode for the lock area is SK6 5LD.

Pack light, keep mobile and expect a session that may need a bit of adapting. Have the right licence and permission sorted, take only the kit you’ll genuinely use, and be ready to work around locks, walkers and boats. If you’re planning a first visit, asking about the best access point, permitted stretches and current navigation arrangements could save a fair bit of faff.

We're not sure on ticket prices for this one — check with the club or local regulations before you leave.

Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.

Videos linked by the fishery

• Our read

  Checked Sept '26 — “Peak Forest Canal’s Marple stretch is a proper heritage canal venue, with the 16-lock Marple flight, the Marple Aqueduct and the junction with the Macclesfield Canal all adding plenty of character. Perch are recorded near Marple, but fishery tickets, species lists, pegs and venue rules aren’t published for this named stretch.”

This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.